November 4, 2013

Issue: #22

Nov. 4, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE Business of Your Career Nov. 18

SAG-AFTRA Conservatory Presents -

New Member Orientation Nov. 12 Young Performers' Parent Meeting Freelance Tidbit

The Business of Your Career

Holiday Schedule Blood Drive Success WIF Event Nov. 5 SAG Awards Viewing Party 2014 SHORTS SHOWCASE

6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 KMRC, 1 East Erie Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611

ARISE Chicago Breakfast SAG FOUNDATION SALON SEEKS SCRIPTS

Details below.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago Conservatory A Topic for Everyone: the Business of Your Career David Turrentine specializes in individual and business tax preparation. An enrolled agent is an individual who has demonstrated technical competence in the field of taxation. Enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service.

We will have a roundtable discussion on collecting unemployment. If you collect unemployment, come share your expertise on the topic. If you have always wondered if you qualify to collect unemployment, but have just been too overwhelmed to figure it all out, this is the place for you!

The Business of your Career 6 - 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 KMRC 1 E. Erie, Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 Please contact Kathy Byrne (312) 573-8081 ext. 508 or email kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org to register.

Please note that nothing herein constitutes or is intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company participating in this event.

Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

By Popular Demand: New Member Orientation in the Evening, Nov. 12 Typically, new member orientation events are held quarterly. Believing in the importance of this information, a second orientation is offered this quarter, and it's in the evening.

New members are the future of SAG-AFTRA. The more knowledgeable they are, the stronger our union and all members are. The goal of the New Members Subcommittee of SAG-AFTRA Chicago's Community Outreach, Community Organizing (COCO) Committee is to educate, engage and empower professional actors from the moment they become union members.

The new member orientation event is only one part of that process. Topics covered include every step involved in the union experience - from initiation fees and the dues structure to the correct way to execute member reports and contracts. Other areas include agents and commissions, casting directors, resolving claims, health coverage, set demeanor, committees, staff and a variety of member benefits.

New member orientations are not just for new members! Whether you joined yesterday or 20 years ago, all members in good standing are welcome. Plan now to attend the next new membership orientation and stay informed.

New Member Orientation 5:30 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 KMRC 1 E. Erie, Suite 660 Chicago, IL 60611 Please call Natasha Beals at the SAG-AFTRA Chicago office, (312) 573-8081 ext. 712, or email Natasha at natasha.beals@sagaftra.org to reserve your spot.

Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, and then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

SAG-AFTRA Young Performers' Parent Meeting, Nov. 19 Parents of SAG-AFTRA's Young Performers are welcome to attend this meeting to discuss issues affecting their kids as union members. This meeting's topics will include the Commercials Contracts and the provisions that affect minors, as well as the various benefits of membership available to everyone.

11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 Please RSVP to Kathy Byrne, SAG-AFTRA Chicago director of TV/Theatrical at kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org.

Park for $10 at 10 East Ontario. Enter on the north side of Ontario between Wabash and State, then take a ticket. When you sign in, you may purchase a four-hour ticket for $10. You will need both tickets to exit the parking structure. Cash only.

Freelance Tidbit Reminder to all actors: Take a few minutes out of your week to update your online profiles. Is your headshot updated? Is your resume current? Are the special skills you have listed still true or have you acquired any new special skills in the past year?

Check all of the casting sites that you have posted your information, and make sure it is all updated.

Updated information will help agents and casting directors find you when they have the role that's perfect for you!

Holiday Schedule for Office and KMRC The SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local office and the KMRC will be closed all day Monday, Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

Ninth Annual Blood Drive a Huge Success Thank you all who came out and donated blood during this year's event. In record numbers, SAG-AFTRA Chicago members and friends showed up to participate. Per LifeSource, the units collected this year have the potential to save the lives of 108 patients. This is the most 'life support' provided in our nine year history.

If you were unable to donate on Oct. 21 but would like to in the future, please use our code C652 at any Lifesource donation center. For more information, please call the LifeSource Medical Help Desk at (877) 543-3768.

Donors received a voucher for a free half-hour headshot session with a local photographer. Thank you again to the amazing photographers who donated their services to make this offer possible.

312 Elements Photography Michael Schacht

Yonzon Photography Mel or Emir Yonzon

Bryan Swisher Photography Bryan Swisher

Mike Sansone Photography Mike Sansone

G. Thomas Ward Photographer Gary Ward Please note that nothing herein constitutes or is intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company participating in this event.

Award-Winning Director Ky Dickens to Screen Sole Survivor Nov. 5 First Tuesdays with the Midwest Independent Film Festival, in partnership with Women in Film Chicago, present an evening with critically acclaimed documentary director of Sole Survivor, Ky Dickens on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema. Dickens will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion.

Sole Survivor was named one of the Top 10 Documentaries to Look Forward to in 2013 by PBS and POV and will be released by CNN Films in early 2014.

Festivities begin with a pre-show cocktail reception at Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark Street) at 6 p.m. The evening's producer panel begins at 6:30 p.m. in the theater. Sole Survivor screens promptly at 7:30 p.m. A post-screening reception will be held immediately following the film program. For more information and tickets, please visit MidwestFilm.org.

Save the Date: SAG Awards Viewing Party Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014 Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, Chicago 5:30 - 7 p.m.: Cocktails and appetizers 7 p.m.: Watch the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards速 More details and RSVP information to follow soon.

Don't Miss Out The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards速 will be here soon, and SAG-AFTRA members will choose the honorees.

Your November dues bill must be paid by Dec. 2, 2013 to be eligible for SAG Awards voting and any "for your consideration" offers. Register at SagAwardsRSVP.org for Screen Actors Guild Awards updates and screening invitations. Follow the SAG Awards on Facebook, Twitter and sagawards.org.

SAG FOUNDATION SEEKING SUBMISSIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2014 SHORTS SHOWCASE Please share this info with all your filmmaker friends!

The SAG Foundation is now accepting submissions from all states east of the Mississippi for its February 2014 Shorts Showcase, now in year five.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. All entries received after that date will be placed in contention for our June 2014 event.

Webseries produced under a union contract are also eligible for consideration.

There is no entry fee, nor is there a cost to attend the screening, which is held in New York City three times a year.

All shorts must be produced under a SAG-AFTRA union contract, and run no longer than 15 minutes, including credits, no exceptions.

The showcase is open to all types of cinematic expression, and is designed to encourage union members and others to create their own projects. In addition to the screening, the evening includes a Q&A with the directors and producers, and an opportunity to network with those in attendance.

Filmmakers may submit a regular DVD copy of their film - no Blu-Ray, please - which should be clearly labeled with a title, the director's name, an email contact address and the project's SAG production number to: SAG FOUNDATION SHORTS SHOWCASE SAG-AFTRA 360 Madison Ave. - 12th Floor New York, NY 10017

ARISE Chicago Annual Faith-Labor-Action Breakfast ARISE Chicago, formerly Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues, builds partnerships between faith communities and workers to fight workplace injustice through education and organizing and advocating for public policy changes.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 7:30 a.m.: Networking reception for sponsors 8 - 9:30 a.m.: Breakfast and program Where: Operating Engineers Local 399 2260 S. Grove Ave., Chicago (1/2 block west of Canal and one block south of Cermak - free parking) Keynote Speaker Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor Special Invited Guest U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez Faithful Leadership Award Rev. Alvin Love, Lillydale First Baptist Church Prophetic Leadership Award Alderman Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward of Chicago Lisa Parker, NBC 5 Chicago news anchor and SAG-AFTRA member, will emcee. Tickets are $75 and available online at arisechicago.org.

SAG FOUNDATION SALON SEEKS SCRIPTS Hello, film and TV scriptwriters, the Screen Actors Guild Foundation would like to hear from you!

The foundation presents staged readings of film and TV scripts, featuring casts of SAG-AFTRA members. It is interested in well-written material that would appeal to a wide audience.

Writers must be members of one of the performing arts (SAG-AFTRA, AEA, etc.) or affiliated unions (DGA, WGA, etc.). If the work is a collaboration, then at least one of the writers must be a union member.

Please submit a brief synopsis of your project to: salon@sagfoundation.org. You will hear from them, if they're interested in reading your script.

In response to members' requests to stay informed, The Activator may include notice of rallies, pickets and other actions by unions and the labor movement that have not been sanctioned by the National or Chicago Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA. This information is provided as a convenience.

The information contained herein regarding workshops, vendors, special offers and the like is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to imply endorsement by SAG-AFTRA of them or the information, material, products or services provided. SAG-AFTRA makes no warranties or representations regarding the use of the material or the quality of the services or service providers.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago: (312) 573-8081 Hotline: (312) 867-3710 Email: chicago@sagaftra.org WEBSITE SAGAFTRA.org.